A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: 1/11

Coffee in the Morning by George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

I come to you in a season of grays,
the charcoaled landscape of my days,
etched with the chill of long winter nights...

I offer you this ordinary time,*
this wintry season waiting
for that Ashen Wednesday
coming soon with Lent's relief
in purpled shades...

I offer you this season in-between
the holly and the palm...

So much of life is in-between:
between the days gone by
   and all the days that lie ahead;
between the old and new,
   twixt hope and disappointment,
   expectation and fulfillment...

In-between the ups and downs:
   the sadness and the joy,
   the laughter and the tears...

In-between what’s not yet done
and what can't yet be known...

Give me patience with the past, Lord,
and hope for all that's yet to come...

I offer you my day, Lord,
in a season in-between,
I offer you this day,

the only day I have to give...

Help me keep it in today, Lord...

Give me serenity to accept
   the things I just can't change,
courage to change
   the many things I can
and wisdom, blessed wisdom,
   to help me know the difference…

Give me grace today
to meet all those who cross my path
as I'd have them meet me:
with patience and with peace….

I come to you in a season of grays,
the charcoaled landscape of my days,
etched with the chill of long winter nights...

I offer you this ordinary time,
this wintry season waiting

for that Ashen Wednesday
coming soon with Lent's relief

in purpled shades...

I offer you this season in-between, Lord,
in-between the holly and the palm...

I offer you the in-between

and trust and pray
you'll meet me there...

Amen.

*On the church calendar the Christmas season ended yesterday, 1/10,
with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and the season of "ordinary
time" began. And Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday which this year is
February 10!